WAT IF? Homes

WAT IF? Development Officer, Jemma Black at the house.

​​First Home for WAT IF?WAT IF? (Woolfords, Auchengray and Tarbrax Improvement Foundation) has taken its first step into the property market by purchasing a 3-bedroom house in the rural village of Tarbrax. WAT IF? plans to refurbish the property and convert it into an affordable rental to meet local housing needs.Work is expected to start on the house next summer with new tenants in place by the end of the year.​Read more...​

90% of the respondents thought that there should be affordable housing developed in the area. Just five households answered no. Of those saying yes, 60% thought there should be housing for rent built; about half thought there should be housing for low cost sale.

The questionnaire asked whether any new housing should be by building new housing or renovating existing housing. 75% of respondents thought any new housing should be provided by renovating existing property whilst just under 30% thought new build should be considered.

The housing needs survey has shown that there is demand for affordable housing to rent and buy in the area. WAT IF? are now continuing to work with Rural Housing Scotland to develop a plan for a Housing Initiative, investigating potential funding streams and identifying potential empty homes and sites.

​Rural Housing Scotland carried out research into housing needs in the villages of Tarbrax, Woolfords, Auchengray and surrounding areas in January/February 2017. The purpose of the research was to determine the need for affordable housing amongst households in the area to help shape any possible housing initiative by WAT IF?.

The questionnaire was distributed alongside the WAT IF? newsletter to a total of 350 households in Tarbrax, Auchengray and Woolfords. Fifty three households responded to the survey with 17 households reporting that they had housing needs and required alternative housing - this is 32% of all respondents.

The main reason given why alternative housing is required is to enable a young adult to live independently, other reasons included older relatives who require alternative housing, overcrowding, insecurity of tenure and needing to be closer to work.